Centric CRM has been named a Platinum sponsor of the first-ever Enterprise Open Source Conference. To be held in New York city June 5-6, the conference focuses on the incredible interest in open source solutions to critical business challenges now being shown by large corporations and will be simulcast to more than 30,000 SYS-CON.TV viewers in addition to its live delgate audience.

Centric CRM has been designed from the ground up with serious companies in mind. With its advanced Java/J2EE design, rich feature-set, flexible license, and low cost, Centric CRM is uniquely positioned to help large enterprises make the move to Open Source.

CRM-Customer Relationship Management-is a business strategy, not a technology. Every organization employs some method of CRM whether it be a deck of index cards, a spreadsheet, or an expensive proprietary computer system. Until recently, sophisticated CRM systems were reserved exclusively for very large enterprises. Fortunately, that is no longer the case. One of the most exciting developments in CRM technology is the emergence of true enterprise-class open source CRM applications. By their very nature, open source applications are less expensive to acquire, deploy and support than proprietary solutions. When correctly designed and implemented, an Enterprise Open Source system like Centric CRM 4.0 will provide true enterprise-class security, scalability, and features at a price and in a form accessible to everyone.

David Richards' presentation will focus on several key points of concern to IT decision-makers looking to support critical corporate business objectives with Enterprise Open Source solutions. Among them, Mr. Richards will explore:

-    An appropriate definition of "Customer Relationship Management," and what it means for the enterprise

-    An examination of the expanding definition of "Open Source," including the emerging notion of "Enterprise Open Source"

-    The inescapable reality of today's complex IT environments-mixed operating systems, mixed licenses, multiple vendors, and budget pressures-and how Centric CRM 4.0 is designed to integrate into those environments

-    Architectural considerations for true Enterprise Open Source solutions including security, scalability, flexibility, ease of deployment and maintenance, and development discipline

Attendees should leave this presentation with a general understanding of some of the larger trends and issues within the overall Enterprise Open Source application space, and a particular understanding of how Centric CRM is designed from the ground up with those issues in mind.